Sanctus of Lyons

2 June

Sanctus, deacon and martyr, one of the Martyrs of Lyons, 177.

At Lyons (Lugdunum in Latin) and Vienne, in Gaul, there were missionary centers which drew many Christians from Asia and Greece. Persecution began in 177. At first, Christians were excluded from the public baths and the market place, and from all social and public life. They were subject to attack when they appeared in public, and many Christian homes were vandalized. At this point the government became involved and began to take Christians into custody for questioning. Some slaves from Christian households were tortured to obtain confessions and were induced to say that Christians practiced cannibalism and incest. These charges were used to arouse the whole city against the Christians, particularly against Pothinus, the aged bishop of Lyons; Sanctus, a deacon; Attalus; Maturus, a recent convert; and Blandina, a slave. Pothinus was beaten and then released, to die of his wounds a few days later. Sanctus was tormented with red-hot irons. Blandina, tortured all day long, would say nothing except, “I am a Christian, and nothing vile is done among us.” Finally, the survivors were put to death in the public arena.